The Butterfly Witch

by E.L. Williams

Gold Medal Winner - The Wishing Shelf Book Awards 2025

She survived witch hunts and world wars, but can love save her from time itself?

1612 – Born into a powerful line of witches, Gwen has always been a disappointment, a girl without magic in a community that reveres it. When news of the Pendle witch trials reaches Gwen’s coven, they cast a desperate spell to shelter orphaned magic. But a cruel twist of fate leaves Gwen to bear the burden alone, cursed to carry magic she cannot wield and hunted by those who would claim it.

1976 – Haunted by his service in Vietnam, private investigator Dan is barely scraping by. When a wealthy client hires him to find a missing woman, he almost refuses – until he witnesses a murder that changes everything.

The deeper he digs, the more he realises that Gwen is the woman time forgot. And if his client finds her first, the magic she has guarded for centuries, and Gwen herself, may be lost forever.

A sweeping tale of love, friendship and the fragile threads that bind us across lifetimes.

The Butterfly Witch is a standalone Ethereal World novel.

Genres: Fantasy

438 pages, Paperback

First published September 4, 2025

About the author

E. L. Williams is the award-winning author of the Ethereal World series — witchy, character-driven fantasy novels where reluctant heroines harness the power of love, friendship, and wild magic to save the world.

The series spans four books, including The First Ethereal, The Blessing of Crows, and the standalone prequels The Magic Keepers and The Butterfly Witch, with a fifth on the way.

When she's not writing, Emma’s usually reading, gardening, or dreaming up ways to smuggle just one more houseplant past her surprisingly tolerant husband.


Join the readers’ club for a free short story https://elwilliamsauthor.com

Connect with Emma on Tiktok, Instagram, Facebook and Substack: @ELWilliamsAuthor

Reviews

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a standalone Ethereal Word novel but completely ok to read as your first book if you are coming to this without reading anything Ethereal World before. Please go read the others, they are smashing!

How do I sum this up without getting over excited and littering my review with spoilers? All I really want to do is surmise the whole plot, I adored this story and want to share just how wonderful it was. Must resist.

Split into 3 time periods, 1612, 1939-1960 and 1976 all following Gwen, her life magically extended by a spell gone wrong, cast by her beloved Grandmother. The magic depicted is in the main gentle, nature based and exactly the kind that a much littler me kept hoping would kick in, soon please. This is the beautiful world where we first meet Gwen and the descriptions of her early life in Wales and her appreciation and connection to nature and animals are wonderfully illustrated. Hiraeth is not a new word or concept but this depiction was a stunning demonstration of it.

Adored the world building, concept and characters and without even a hint of a spoiler the ending had me on the edge of my seat and then in tears of joy. Oh, and I might need to go google cello lessons…

[Cindy Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book. It was written really well. Even though it sometimes fluttered back and forth with dates it was easy enough to follow.

Gwen is born into a family of powerful witches at a time when persecution was rife even if someone thought you to be a witch but wasn’t you’d be hanged! So her Grandmother and coven try to do a spell to help those that had lost theirs lives so their magic would be passed down to their family after their passing. But the spell gets interrupted and goes wrong put to my Gwen at danger. She has to go on the run never staying too long in one place. What makes it harder is Gwen doesnt come into her power, so does she manage to stay safe and at what cost?
There’s magic, loss, grief, love, lies & evil.
Ther first half of the books is more of Gwen’s back story which I lived reading about and then it leads to the present.
I would very much recommend to anyone who loves magic, a book with hope,friendship & love . I’ll definitely be reading E.L Williams other books .

[Elora Canne · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautifully written story of Gwen who feels lost and without purpose until she is hunted and forced to make a life-threatening decision. That’s the moment she finds herself, her purpose and more than she bargained for.

[Billy Buttons · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was entered in The Wishing Shelf Book Awards. This is what our readers thought:
Title: The Butterfly Witch
Author: E. L. Williams

Star Rating: 5 Stars
Number of Readers: 15
Stats
Editing: 10/10
Writing Style: 10/10
Content: 10/10
Cover: 5/5

Of the 15 readers:
15 would read another book by this author.
15 thought the cover was good or excellent.
15 felt it was easy to follow.
15 would recommend this book to another reader to try.
Of all the readers, 6 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘plotting a story’.
Of all the readers, 5 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘developing the characters’.
Of all the readers, 4 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘writing style’.
15 felt the pacing was good or excellent.
15 thought the author understood the readership and what they wanted.

Readers’ Comments
Sophie, 29
The Butterfly Witch was absolutely beautiful. Gwen’s story felt heartbreaking and magical at the same time, and I loved the mix of historical fantasy and 1970s mystery. The romance was slow, emotional, and really stayed with me after I finished.
Rachel, 34
I loved The Butterfly Witch. The atmosphere was so rich and immersive, and Gwen is such a tragic but lovable character. Dan was the perfect balance to her, and their connection felt genuine instead of rushed. Definitely recommend it if you enjoy emotional fantasy with hidden magic and romance.
Emma, 41
The Butterfly Witch completely pulled me in from the first chapter. The idea of Gwen carrying centuries of lost magic while being hunted across time was fascinating, and the emotional weight of her immortality hit hard. Beautifully written and impossible to put down.
Leah, 26
This book surprised me in the best way. The Butterfly Witch is magical, haunting, and full of emotion without ever feeling overly dramatic. I especially loved the hidden witch lore and the slow-burn relationship between Gwen and Dan.
Natalie, 38
The Butterfly Witch felt like a perfect blend of historical fantasy, mystery, and romance. Gwen’s loneliness over the centuries was written so well, and Dan’s storyline added a gritty emotional edge that balanced the magic beautifully. Such an atmospheric read.
Claire, 31
I adored The Butterfly Witch. It’s one of those stories that feels both epic and deeply personal at the same time. The writing is gorgeous, the romance is tender, and Gwen is a heroine I won’t forget anytime soon.

To Sum It Up:
“An immortal witch cursed to carry forbidden magic must decide whether risking her heart is worth losing the only thing that has kept her alive for four centuries. A GOLD MEDAL WINNER and highly recommended!” Wishing Shelf Book Awards

[Caroline Llewellyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been waiting with bated breath for the release of “The Butterfly Witch” and was over the moon to be able to be an ARC Reader, and all I can say is, this book is all I could have hoped for and more!
I am a huge fan of E L Williams’ writing, and this book slots in perfectly alongside all her other wonderful stories. Although it is a Standalone, it does take place in her Ethereal World setting, which I was so happy about because I honestly just want to live inside this world all the time! It is a place filled with delightful characters, beautiful scenery, animals with as much personality as their humans…And best of all, magic (and a cup of tea!) is always just within reach.
The main characters, Gwen and Dan, are so well formed and three-dimensional, you really feel like you know them as soon as you meet them on the page. My heart raced alongside Gwen’s every time the butterflies made their appearance, and every time she had to fight her way out of a sticky situation. I was behind Dan every step of the way on his journey, and loved seeing his friendship with Clemmy the dog blossoming! The cast of supporting characters are a delightful mix of warm, funny, caring and sometimes terrifying people who all feel equally as real as our heroes. I especially loved Gwen’s Nain (such a wonderfully strong, caring woman!) and Walt (who I just wanted to sit and chat to for hours and hours!) And I was overjoyed to see some characters from other books making appearances too!
The story is set in various periods in the past, and at intervals it jumps forward into different timelines which I found really interesting and added to the mysterious feel to some of the story line. You’re really kept guessing at what might have happened in the past to bring these characters to their ‘now’, as well as the possibilities of what could happen in their futures, right up until the last minute which I found really exciting! This leads to some achingly suspenseful moments, and many many genuinely exciting twists and turns.
All in all I absolutely loved reading this book and I would highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys a bit of magic, time travel, witchcraft, period drama, romance, suspense, humour and good dollops of descriptions of the beautiful Welsh countryside!

[read. by. emma_ · Rating 5 out of 5]

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘉𝘶𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘭𝘺 𝘞𝘪𝘵𝘤𝘩 by E.L. Williams. 🦋 Spoiler-free.

I was lucky enough to beta and ARC read 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘉𝘶𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘭𝘺 𝘞𝘪𝘵𝘤𝘩, and I knew right away E.L. Williams had created something special. It’s beautiful, emotional, tense in all the right places, and full of heart. I laughed, I cried, I swore at certain moments, and I loved every second of it.

E.L. Williams has a way of writing that makes the world fall away. Her stories don’t just unfold around you they wrap around you. There were moments I could feel the sun warming my skin, taste the tang of salt in the air, hear the whispers of the breeze through the grass. I wasn’t just reading Gwen’s story; I was there, walking every step with her.

Gwen is such a beautifully layered character resilient yet vulnerable, strong yet achingly human. I felt everything alongside her. There’s something deeply moving about watching someone carry so much and still keep going. Her story is about survival, resilience, and finding connection when the world has tried to take everything from you. I felt her loneliness like it was my own, worried for her, hurt alongside her, and celebrated every flicker of hope she found.

And then there’s Walt. I don’t want to say too much, but the bond between him and Gwen is one of the most quietly powerful parts of the book. There’s a gentleness to it, a sense of safety and understanding that gave me goosebumps. Their connection felt like home. That’s the magic of E.L. Williams’ writing: her characters step off the page and leave footprints on your heart.

This is a story about survival, found family, and love that stretches across lifetimes. It’s full of beauty, grief, love, and hope. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘉𝘶𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘭𝘺 𝘞𝘪𝘵𝘤𝘩 is the kind of story that lingers one of those rare books that makes you feel like you’ve lived it, not just read it

While 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘉𝘶𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘭𝘺 𝘞𝘪𝘵𝘤𝘩 is a standalone novel, If you’ve read the other Ethereal World books, you’ll feel the familiar magic woven beneath the surface. And if you haven’t? I highly recommend picking them up.

Available to pre-order now and will be released on the 4th of September, 2025

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[Martha Dunlop · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this gorgeous magical fantasy that spans centuries. It is set in the real world, with magic as a hidden and potentially brutal reality fizzing away beneath the surface.

Beginning in the 17th century, it follows the story of Gwen, a girl born to witch heritage with no magic of her own. Brought up by her powerful grandmother after her own mother died in childbirth, she finds herself at the mercy of a spell that makes her the recipient of magic released by witches targeted in the Pendle witch trials. Gwen is unable to use the orphaned magic, but even so it renders her immortal, doomed to outlive everyone she loves and to run forever from the witch finders determined to claim the magic she guards.

We catch up with Gwen in the 1970s, with the witchhunters closing in. Gwen has someone on her side even if she doesn’t know it, but after centuries on the run she’s used to working alone and has no idea whether or not to trust Dan.

Dan is a private investigator, running from his memories of his time in the military. When he is hired by a wealthy client to track down a missing woman he takes the case, determined to find her and protect her from the man who hired him. But the more he looks for her, the more obsessed he becomes with this woman who may not even be real.

The Butterfly Witch is a rich and epic character led story that spans centuries and brings magic into a dangerous modern world. Full of danger, romance and mystery with hidden societies and rules, it is beautifully written and drew me in right from the start. I loved Gwen and Dan who both had their own traumas and hurdles to overcome, and there were fabulous secondary characters too. It’s a lush and immersive book from beginning to end and I will definitely be going back for more by E.L. Williams.

[Julia Blake · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful book. The Butterfly Witch is a standalone paranormal fantasy spanning centuries that delivers on all fronts. It was also a refreshing change to have a “done-in-one” read rather than investing so much time in book series that are longer than my future.

Gwen is a powerless witch who ends up being the guardian of the magic set loose in the world when another witch dies violently and is unable to pass their magic onto the next in their bloodline. Surviving in a cold and lonely world, Gwen has learnt through the centuries never to trust anyone and to always have her escape plan ready.

Dan is a private detective working in London, used by the police when they need someone prepared to get his hands dirty. When his latest case goes sideways, Dan is suddenly on the run from evil forces he does not understand. Not prepared for the world of magic he unwittingly uncovers, Dan is also not prepared for the raven-haired stranger with old eyes and a habit of disappearing.

This is an incredible read. The writing is exquisite, the pacing nicely done, and the plot twists and turns just enough to keep the reader engaged, but not enough to leave us floundering in too much busyness. For people who enjoyed A Discovery of Witches, this will tick all the right boxes, and I cannot recommend it highly enough.

[Helen Garraway · Rating 5 out of 5]

A gentle, cozy witchy fantasy tale spanning centuries. I loved this story about Gwen, a witch who never believed she had magic, and how through a twist of fate and poor spellcraft, she ended up the guardian of orphaned magic. A magic she had to protect for centuries, never able to relax and live her life, always on the run.

This may not be a full on action adventure, but Williams evokes a heartfelt longing, along with beautiful descriptions and well-developed characters who pull you along with the magical swirl of butterflies that tempt with the possibiity that just maybe there may be a happy ever after for Gwen. I loved Tan, Walt, and Dan, as well as Clementine. William's love for animals, and dogs especially shine through, along with her love for playing the cello.

Caught in the middle of powerful politicking, and magical nepotism, Gwen lives many lives, until she reaches the final iteration and everything ends in an explosive confrontation. Who will survive and who will fall? You'll have to read the book to find out. And isn't that cover to die for? There is a special edition with sprayed edges too, if you're lucky enough to grab a copy.

[Judith Oak · Rating 5 out of 5]

A magical triumph, the fourth book in the Ethereal world, The Butterfly Witch is a beautifully written, nail biting, heart-stopping adventure through the magical world created by E L Williams.

Whilst is it a standalone book, it draws in some of the characters from the other 3 books and adds some detail which lovers of the Ethereal world will enjoy. I was totally drawn into Gwen’s world and was hooked from page 1. The characters are believable and full of life and colour, you feel like you really know them.

Hard to put down, if I’d had the time, I would have read the book in one sitting. E L Williams’ imagination is remarkable, and the way she weaves the magical into the real world is seamless and totally believable. A stunning and beautiful representation of magic, I will never look at butterflies in the same way again.

If you haven’t read the other 3 books, I highly recommend you do, I will be re-reading them very soon and hoping that a fifth book will be on its way in the near future!

[Lauren Hamilton · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beautiful story of discovering your worth.

This books was so action packed! I was on the edge of my seat for so much of it, not a single dull moment. But at its core (the way I took it) it’s such a beautiful story of self discovery and acceptance.

The characters in this book were second to none; so many of them stand out to me, even if they didn’t have major roles in the story. Most of all clementine the dog. If nothing else in this review convinces you to read Emma’s books the fact that she always includes animals in the most beautiful ways should.

Her writing is so impactful and moving I’ve got so many quotes saved that I’ll have to share as soon as the book is out. The writing style is the perfect mix of clear and concise with a helping of whimsy. I loved reading it!

Magic is everywhere, but there’s a lot of it in this book.

[beccy clish · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous plot and even better characters! Gwen is relatable and fun and her journey is an epic adventure where she is hunted for the magic she can’t control. What she holds is something that could be lost forever and what follows is her burden of having to run and hide from those who seek her. Always being alone she meets Walt who asks nothing of her but friendship. But when a wealthy client hires Dan a private investigator to find someone he soon realises that gwen is being hunted and if his client finds her first both the magic and gwen may be lost forever.

I won’t put any spoilers because this deserves to be read so you can enjoy the magic of Gwen. One of the best witch stories I’ve read in a long time and I really love the history and timeline of the plot too. Highly recommend

[Shaun · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is beautifully written. Set between Wales and England, the story instantly felt familiar and grounding, making it so easy for me to connect with the characters.

We begin with Gwen, our FMC - gentle, caring, and layered with just the right amount of vulnerability to make her feel real. Then comes Dan, her perfect counterpart: inquisitive, protective, and the kind of character who feels like he belongs on the page with her.

Emma’s writing is simply beautiful - lyrical without ever losing its heart, and immersive enough that I didn’t want to put the book down. I was completely drawn into this world from the very first chapter and couldn't put it down!

I can’t wait to discover more of the world. 5/5 stars from me. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Linda Cheung · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked this up after meeting E.L. Williams at the PaSciFy book convention in Harrogate, and I am so glad I did. I absolutely loved every single page. And ended up buying the kindle version of it rather than Kindle unlimited.
The world building is immersive and the setup of the story is described with such vivid beauty that I felt like I was right there in the thick of it. But what truly stayed with me was Gwen’s journey. Watching her character growth was incredibly moving, seeing her finally take a chance, find her courage, and truly believe that she was someone worth protecting and had someone she wanted to protect at the same time was such a powerful moment.
A wonderful blend of magic and emotional depth.

[Shana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I knew this book was something special from the very first page, but I couldn't quite put my finger on why. It wasn't until I reached the end and read the Author's Note that everything clicked. I swear, my heart was fluttering.
I'm honestly not sure I can fully describe how this book made me feel. It took me on such an emotional journey—there were heartbreaking moments, some genuinely scary ones, plenty of sadness, and beautiful moments of love. Through it all, it remained a wonderfully touching and unforgettable read.
This story will stay with me for a long time, and I can't wait to dive into the rest of E.L. Williams' work. If her other books are anything like this one, I'm in for something truly special. ❤️

[Amy Chapman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Had to DNF this book. It's beautifully written. The story is great. However, I was not able to be drawn in the into world. I got 50% the way through, and unfortunately, I had to place the book down.

I wish I was able to love it, as the premise of the book is right up my street, and there isn't anything that puts me off this book, im so sorry.

[NaomiDaviesWatters · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful 🥰🥰

I loved this book iam so glad I went to passcyfi and bought it after meeting the author great story felt the feels all way through the ups the down the stress everything can't wait to read the others ❤️

[Grace Green · Rating 2 out of 5]

⭐️2.5⭐️

[Jackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a beautifully written story of lost family, love and magic.